Looking back!

It has been just under a year since I was given my license and I could not be more pleased with how it has gone. We have achieved twelve winners from only 23 runners and have had numerous places to go with this. In total, we have won over £100,000. All trainers would like more winners, but what we have achieved has been brilliant. My first winner Mercian King, also The Thoroughbred Club’s, was very special, but Kalane’s Doncaster Listed victory was definitely a personal highlight, especially as she was the first horse that I ever bought when she was a foal. Other standouts include the two doubles we achieved; the first coming in December with Shan Dun na nGall at Newcastle and Kalane in a handicap at Doncaster. The second was achieved in May thanks to Thaqaffa at Nottingham and Blessed To Empress, my first two-year-old winner, at Chelmsford. I cannot thank my owners enough for their support and likewise my staff, they have proved invaluable and here’s to many further successes.

(Blessed To Empress Connections prior to winning at Chelmsford)

We will be double handed tomorrow with a runner apiece at Newmarket and at Bangor. Thaqaffa makes his return to the track after a break and we are dropping him back to seven furlongs. He is a bit of a burly horse so naturally will take a run to put him back to 100% fitness but I hope he will run with great credit in the process. At Bangor Mercian King makes his first start since February a handicap chase. He always runs his race, is the most consistent horse and it is good to get him started again.

(Silvestre De Souza on Thaqaffa & Lemos De Sousa on Carnival King)

Looking ahead to next week, Carnival King has been entered at Windsor over a mile. This will be the first time at the distance for us, having had three runs over seven furlongs. Lazarus, an unraced son of Zoffany, has been entered in a ten furlong maiden at Nottingham on Tuesday, while Kassandra, who will be making her first start for us and first in handicap company, has a couple of entries on Wednesday at Bath and Yarmouth. Kalakchee will make his debut next Thursday, but whether that is at Brighton or Wolverhampton, it will be decided a lot closer to the time.

The Racing Club owned Entertaining Ben has been given a break after four reasonably quick runs. He has been entered at Chelmsford on Tuesday and Bath on Wednesday. There are a couple of shares left in him and the Racing Club is a great way to get into ownership, costing just £200 per month.

(Entertaining Ben after finishing runner up for the racing club)

With Mercian King starting out, it signals that the full jumps season is just around the corner and all the jumpers are now back in from their summer holidays. While we may not have Kalane, who is happily enjoying retirement and is safely in foal to Sir Percy, we do have her full-brother Kalashnikov to go novice hurdling with which is very exciting.

We have a couple of horses that are for sale at present. Enola was bought at the Tattersalls July Sale from Ed Dunlop. Only a three-year-old, she won on debut in June this year and then had two further quick runs. She was turned straight out in the field for a much needed holiday and will be back and ready to run in the autumn.  We also have a Champs Elysees two-year-old gelding for sale, who has been pleasing me, but has not been pressed, as he would be a longer-term project coming to his own next season as a three year old. However, he is likely to have a run at the latter end of the season for education.

Next month it is Newmarket Open Weekend (16th-17th September) and Hamilton Stables will be open for those attending on the Sunday from 9am to 12.30pm and will welcome all. With the strange way that the weekends have fallen this year, Newmarket’s first September meeting for once does not fall on the open weekend, but I have been roped in to take part in the trainers commentary competition. It will be daunting, but I will give it my all. There is added competition as well this year as I have been told that it will be Lambourn verses Newmarket – I am not sure who else is doing it, but there certainly both sides will put up quite the fight to win.

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